The Overwhelming Power of Nature. The Relationship between Human and Nature in "A Descent into the Maelstrom"

The goal of this paper is to outline that the old sailor in A Descent into the Maelstrom realizes on the brink of the abyss how powerful and magnificent nature really is and that he has to define a new relationship to nature, God and rationality if he wants to survive.

The short story can be assigned to the genre American Dark Romanticism. Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Hermann Melville are the three main writers of the genre. Topics of American Dark Romanticism are Emotions, Anti-Enlightement, Subjectivity, the Supernatural and Nature. A Descent into the Maelstrom is one of two sea tales by Poe besides Ms. Found in the Bottle (Kent Ljungquist “Sublime”). The second chapter deals with the two sides of nature: On the one hand the horror of nature and on the other hand nature as sublime and magnificent. The third chapter will examine the importance of science in A Descent into the Maelstrom. Chapter four will analyse and interpret the survival of the sailor and the last chapter will deal with Poe‘s thoughts on God and nature.

A Descent into the Maelstrom is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The short story was first published in April 1841 in Graham‘s Magazine which was edited by Egar Allan Poe. The opening quotation shows three different perspectives on nature that the short story provides: Awe because of the power and greatness, horror because of the dangers and admiration because of the magnificence and sublime of nature. All three sides of nature will occur in A Descent into the Maelstrom and we have to learn how to deal with it.

Nowadays many people argue that the modern human has lost his connection to nature. Politicians in talkshows and young people on the streets discuss how to stop the climate change. The ecological movement of the last 30 years tried to protect the environment. Many German highschool graduates spend time in nature in Australia, New Zealand or in the United States after their graduation. The Corona-Crisis shows us how weak and powerless we are even if the latest technology seems to give us power. Apart from talkshows and documentaries, literature offers us a free space that allows us to think about the subject nature in a different way. A Descent into the Maelstrom is a short story that provides us with new trains of thoughts about and helps us to create new ideas about us, nature and our relationship.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Depiction of Nature
  • The Horror of Nature
  • Nature as Sublime
• The Role of Science
  • Scientific Works
  • The Old Sailor as Scientist
• The Survival of the Old Sailor
  • The Epigraph by Joseph Glanville
  • On the Brink of The Abyss
• Poe, God and Nature
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper aims to examine the relationship between humans and nature in Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "A Descent into the Maelstrom." The paper focuses on the old sailor's realization of nature's power and magnificence as he confronts the maelstrom, and how this realization compels him to redefine his relationship with nature, God, and reason in order to survive.

• The Power and Horror of Nature
• The Sublime and Magnificence of Nature
• The Role of Science and Instinct in Understanding Nature
• The Redefinition of Human-Nature Relationship in the Face of Death
• God's Presence in Nature

Chapter Summaries

• The introduction explores the context of Poe's "A Descent into the Maelstrom" within American Dark Romanticism, highlighting the story's themes of nature, emotion, and the supernatural. It also establishes the goal of the paper to analyze the old sailor's changing perception of nature.
• The second chapter explores the dual nature of the maelstrom, presenting it as both horrifying and magnificent. The chapter examines how Poe's depiction of the maelstrom challenges the traditional romantic view of nature.
• The third chapter examines the role of science and technology in the story, highlighting the limitations of scientific understanding in the face of natural phenomena. It explores the importance of instinct and intuition in survival.
• The fourth chapter focuses on the old sailor's journey toward survival and the moment of realization that marks his shift in perspective.

Keywords

This paper focuses on the themes of nature, human-nature relationship, American Dark Romanticism, Edgar Allan Poe, "A Descent into the Maelstrom," the sublime, the horror of nature, science vs. instinct, and the power of nature.

Details

• Hochschule: Universität Mannheim (Anglistisches Seminar)
• Veranstaltung: PS Literary Studies: American Dark Romanticism
• Note: 2,0
• Autor: Anonym (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2020
• Seiten: 16
• Katalognummer: V1405057
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346955197
• ISBN (Buch): 9783346955203
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: American Dark Romanticism Poe Raven Descent into the Maelstrom Nature Human